The Two-Generational Family Strengthening Program at Fox Valley Technical College aims to build economic security for low-income women and their young children. The group of twelve participants are native Spanish speakers, and are learning English while simultaneously developing and enhancing computer, digital, and financial literacy skills.
As they progress through the program, the women are gaining confidence and feeling less intimidated by technology. That confidence is translating to new beginnings, like searching for jobs online and using better strategies for managing finances.
“They’re excited about teaching their children good financial habits,” shares Lauren Anderson, a lead instructor for the Family Strengthening Program. While the mothers search for jobs, manage finances, and learn a new language, their children study and adapt habits that will impact their own lives down the road.
The group’s culminating project entails using Microsoft Word to write about their personal experiences. “In the beginning, they weren’t excited about the final project,” says Anderson, “They weren’t confident in their skills and they didn’t know what story would be worth telling.” Now the mothers are using technology with increasing confidence and putting together complex statements in English. Once afraid to share their stories, these twelve women are starting to realize how significant their voices truly are.
